Hi everyone!
I did say it was a busy time , right? This afternoon, after getting in as much work time as possible before hitting the road, we are on our way back to Mid-Ohio Raceway. Last time there was a Spec Racer Ford event. This time it will be at the IMSA O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio for the Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR race in the Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Hyundai Elantra N #80. This time we have a 4-hour race on Sunday afternoon. Once again, his teammate will be Chase Jones. We are super excited about this one. Both guys have some laps at this track and in this car now, making the learning curve at least a little less steep. It’s rainy on the way out, but that should clear by tomorrow, leaving us lovely weather for the event days.
You will find the broadcast on YouTube. Wish us luck!
P.S. There's a bonus link too. Interview with team owner, Victor.
FRIDAY NOTES:
Yesterday afternoon, we did a track walk of the 13-turn 2.258 mile course (run without the Keyhole chicane). Morgan and Chase have laps here, so they can help Elliot for whom this is the first visit. On these walks they assess the surface, look at curbs, and find where water seeps up. Most importantly they look to understand sight lines, find brake points, turn in points, apexes, and track out points. All of that information helps them understand where to place the car for maximum speed and minimal stress on the car. They also look for the good passing zones and the places where an error would be costly.
The team’s energy is high. The cars are sparkling and getting the last details checked before they go through tech. We do have plenty of time today because our only session is practice for an hour starting at 3:10 PM Eastern. No broadcast for that, but you’ll find live timing here: https://livetiming.alkamelsystems.com/imsa
And results, time cards and weather reports here: https://imsa.results.alkamelcloud.com/
So much waiting! Today there is a lot of time for us to wait. The mechanics remain busy with final checks and adjustments. We wander through the paddock to find old friends. Nathan Nicholson runs in the Mazda MX5 Cup and Mid-O is close enough to home that the whole family can come. Nicholson's are awesome grassroots folk. Love them! Hit this story on Nathan in Racer Magazine. https://racer.com/2024/06/05/inside-mazda-mx-5-cup-nathan-nicholson-puts-in-the-work/
Weather: Maybe you noticed that I go on quite a lot about the weather. Not only is it a matter of personal comfort and how many layers we might need handy, but it matters greatly to the cars as well. Engines like cool, dense air best. That provides a better mixture of air and fuel, like a super charger, but not as strong an effect. Cooler air is denser with more oxygen per unit of volume and it also helps engine temps.
Wind is another important factor. A tailwind can improve straight line speed while a headwind slows the car down. You hope that the wind direction is in line with the track where it helps most. A crosswind is something else entirely. That can create a big skill test for the driver if it’s in a tricky corner, harder still if it’s strong gusts.
You might not guess it, but clouds can be a really big issue. Yeah, they can rain on us, but some peeps (like our boy Morgan) like the rain. It’s the way the shadow of the cloud changes track the temperature that gets tricky. It only a few moments for the surface to heat or cool significantly. That changes grip. Grip is everything! Now you know why I am obsessed with weather!
Practice 1: You may recall from our last visit to Mid-Ohio with the SRF, this place is very tricky. The pavement feels like glass but is really quite grippy. With the combination of a couple long straights and some very technical twisty bits, getting the set up just right can be difficult. Both Morgan and Chase are quite happy with the feel of the car today. It's the best starting set up they've had so far.
Practice tomorrow will have similar weather when they go out at 11:55. The 15-minute Qualifying session at 4:30 may be a bit warmer. But weather changes so you’ll just have to tune in tomorrow to find out what happens!
SATURDAY NOTES:
As expected, today is a bit warmer than yesterday, but not terrible. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a bit more wind. The crew uniform is all black so the breeze is extra appreciated! Now we take a break and grab some lunch, letting the cars cool before diving in again. The crew will go over things before the qualifying session this afternoon. We get 15 minutes, starting at 4:30 and Morgan will take the wheel. Don’t forget that IMSA timing link has other tabs. One is the track map that shows where every car is on the circuit. Very cool to watch! You might need multiple screens - I sure do!
Qualifying: This is such a short session. On the one hand, it’s easy - you only need one lap, right? But… There are only 15 flying minutes to get that special lap laid down. In that time, the drivers need to bring themselves, the car, and especially the tires up into the optimal operating windows. At the same time, they have to work out placement on the track relative to other cars - run alone or try to find a friendly drafting partner?
At the end of a very tense few minutes, they have done their jobs and qualifying is over. Morgan in the #80 and Elliot in the #99 are 6th and 8th respectively. They are both happy with the feel of the cars and their starting positions for the long race tomorrow. There may be a few more set up tweaks to come.
In the morning tomorrow at 10:00, we have an autograph session that will take place in the lane outside the tent. Then at 11:45, the fan walk on pit lane begins. Formation laps go at 12:30 and the green flag drops at 12:40. Watch it on Peacock and wish us luck! We are very excited to see how this race develops!
SUNDAY NOTES:
We keep very busy today. IMSA's General Admission tickets give the spectators access to almost everything except the pit lane itself so they stream by all day every day. There is a special time at 10:00 where all the drivers are available outside their paddock tents to talk to them and sign autographs. That is a extraordinary and energizing time because everyone is so excited and encouraging.
There is a flurry of rapid Spanish as Jefe Victor keeps a sharp eye on all activities. The backdrop of sound under the tent is the sharp braaattt of impact wrenches on lug nuts, the hum of generators, the soft whistle of fuel flowing into the cars, with the muted voice of the PA announcer outside pumping up the crowd for the first race of the day. The roar of the Mustang Challenge field will come and go as they steam down the front straight and up to the Keyhole for a while. (Our paddock space is nestled in that corner of the track.) In a few laps, that will become a more steady undertone as their field stretches out.
After a while, the cars move to pit lane for the grid walk at 11:45. If the autograph time in the paddock was cool, this is even more so. This is the one opportunity for everyone to get out onto the pit lane where all the cars are lined up in their starting positions. There they can get a close look at the cars and ask questions, talk to the drivers, get more autographs. Morgan especially loves to talk to the kids and they love it too! I'll refrain from sending spoilers for a while to give you a chance to watch the race in your own time.
I promise you, we can feel the wave of positive energy flowing toward us, wishing us well today. That buoys us and fills our hearts with joy! This doesn’t capture just how much that matters to all of us but, Thank you!!!
Stay Frosty!
RACE WRAP:
The Mid-Ohio race was a roller coaster for us. As the driver who qualified, Morgan started the race. He got a good clean start from 5th. Always a relief when the first few laps are done. As the race progressed, he kept it clean and ran good consistent laps. The goal early and throughout the race is to be nice to the car. It has to last for 4 hours after all!
At the end of that 1st hour, Morgan had the car in 4th in class! This was wonderful at this point! The pace was in that sweet spot where it’s sustainable and relatively easy to drive while still being pretty quick. The announcers gave him a great shout out about a half hour into the race. Look for that if you are watching later!
Chase had the middle stint lasting about 2 hours. That’s a very long time to drive. Even with the relatively cool ambient temps, it’s over 100 degrees in the cockpit. Midway through, we did a stop to change tires and add fuel and send him back out again. During stops, there is a fast swirl of frantic activity, and in a burst of noise, the car is gone again, back into battle.
At around 3 hours in, Morgan got in again. Focused on staying tidy, he took it to the finish. With the combo of caution flags and other team’s stops, Morgan ran as high as 2nd in class. That felt so amazing even knowing it would drop after everyone else made their last stops. He even held onto 5th for a long time, but at the checker, Morgan was 9th. That’s a respectable performance and gives us a good launch for Watkins Glen in two weeks. While the results don't tell the whole story of how good the performance is, we are honored to be part of this team, and helping us grow and develop each other!
WHAT’S NEXT?
Onward to Watkins Glen! In two weeks, we will be back in the Finger Lakes of New York for the next IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race. See you there!